EduAsiaNews, Bangka Belitung – The Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands has officially granted a 2.7-hectare plot of land located adjacent to Dr. (H.C.) Ir. Soekarno Regional General Hospital to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology. The land will be managed by Universitas Bangka Belitung (UBB) for the development of its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The signing of the Handover Minutes (BAST) and the Regional Grant Agreement Document (NPHD) was carried out by the Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Dr. (H.C.) Hidayat Arsani, S.E., and the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Badri Munir Sukoco, SE., MBA., Ph.D., at Building D of the Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 29).
The event was also attended by the Acting Regional Secretary of Bangka Belitung Province, Fery Afriyanto, S.T.; Head of the Health Office and Acting Director of RSUD Soekarno, dr. Ria Agustine, M.Kes.; Head of the Regional Financial Agency (Bakeuda), Yunan Helmi; Head of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Reskiansyah; Acting Head of the Legal Bureau, Andi Namandang; Rector of UBB, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim, M.Si.; Vice Rector for Finance and General Affairs of UBB, Dr. Henny Helmi, M.Si.; Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dr. Ir. Ismed Inonu, M.Si.; and Head of the Bureau of Planning, Finance, Personnel, and General Affairs of UBB, Erry Gusnawan, S.E., M.M.
In his remarks, Governor Hidayat Arsani reaffirmed the commitment of the Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands to continuously support the advancement of higher education, particularly in the health sector. “The Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands has never been half-hearted in supporting higher education programs. This land grant is concrete evidence of our seriousness and commitment to improving the quality of education and healthcare services in the region,” he stated.
Furthermore, Governor Hidayat emphasized that the granted land will be used to develop UBB’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, which is expected to produce highly qualified medical professionals and improve the ratio of healthcare personnel in the region, particularly specialist doctors and other professional health workers. “We want to ensure that in the future, Bangka Belitung will no longer face a shortage of specialist doctors or skilled medical personnel, so that the standard of healthcare services for our community can improve significantly,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Badri Munir Sukoco, expressed high appreciation for the grant provided by the Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands. He stated that the grant constitutes a highly important institutional asset for advancing the tri dharma of higher education, namely education, research, and community service. “We hope that with this support, Universitas Bangka Belitung will be able to manage this grant asset optimally, thereby delivering tangible impacts on the development of knowledge, innovation, and contributions to society as well as regional development,” he said.
The Rector of Universitas Bangka Belitung, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim, M.Si., also expressed his deepest gratitude to the Provincial Government of the Bangka Belitung Islands for the land grant. He conveyed that the construction of facilities for the Faculty of Medicine will be carried out in stages, in accordance with established plans and budget availability. “The land we have received will become the center for the development of an integrated Faculty of Medicine and will help invigorate hospital activities, while also providing a significant impact on the quality of health education in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province,” he stated.
This land grant is expected to support further development, particularly as Soekarno Central General Hospital is also planned to be designated as a teaching hospital. In the future, the Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Bangka Belitung is planned to be fully integrated in the Air Anyir area, at the location of the granted land. (UBB Public Relations)
